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Summary

Course of the leat serving Bradley Mill, Sherborne Mill and a bark mill shown on 1880s-1890s 25 inch Ordnance Survey map. A short southern section in Highweek served the tannery. The leat is still live.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX87SE/164

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• LEAT (XIV to XIX - 1301 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

Griffiths, D. M., 1757, Map (Worksheet). SDV338357.

A mill leat is shown on a map of 1757 in the Devon Heritage Centre entering the River Teign above New Bridge. Sketch of map on worksheet.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Long mill leat marked on 1880s-1890s 25 inch Ordnance Survey map running from a weir and sluice on the River Lemon to the west of Bradley Manor at SX84327100 to Bradley Mill, Sherborne Mill and a bark mill before entering Whitelake Channel at SX86467179. The leat, which also possibly served Newton Brewery, diverges at Highweek to the tannery. This shorter southern section of leat appears to re-enter the Lemon via a spillway from the main leat just above Sherborne Mill. The last section from the bark mill to the Whitelake Channel is marked as Mill Tail.

National Trust, 1984, Bradley Manor (Report - Survey). SDV307144.

A medieval mill leat constructed to carry water from the River Lemon to the Manor Mills survives as an earthwork.

Exeter Archaeology, 2001, Archaeological Assessment of Proposed Redevelopment at Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot, 9, 11 (Report - Assessment). SDV310051.

Course of the Sherborne Mill leat running from SX85447115 to at least SX85907141. The mill located to the east of Highweek Street is thought to have been in existence by the 14th century. Another course of the least is shown running almost parallel circa 50 metres to the north. Both courses wold be affected by the 2001 redevelopment proposals.

1st Engineers Reports Limited, 2003, Conversion of Bark Mill (Correspondence). SDV338356.

Bodman, M., 2003, Watermills and Other Water-Powered Sites in Devon, 271 (Report - Interim). SDV325576.

The bark mill was the final mill to make use of the leat before it rejoined the river.

Mayes, S. + Oakey, N. J., 2004, Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot: Archaeological Evaluation, 653 (Report - Evaluation). SDV320583.

The northern section of the leat was shown running along the southern side of Bradley Lane on a map of circa 1790. An evaluation trench excavated by Archaeological Investigations in 2004 at SX85647134 failed to locate the northern leat but a geotechnical borehole at SX85717132 may have located part of the southern leat in the form of a wood-lined feature.

Oakey, N. J., 2004, Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot: Desk Based Assessment, 19 (Report - Assessment). SDV338211.

The more southerly leat which may be medieval is circa 50 metres north of the River Lemon.

Watts, S., 2022, Bradley Mills, Newton Abbot (Ground Photograph). SDV364726.

The leat, which is still live, runs underneath the 1883 Bradly Mill building but it must also have served the settling tanks on the south side of the lane. A leat is also shown running around Shirburne Mill on the 1930s OS map. The leat then continues, now underground, along the south side of Bradley Lane towards the site of the former tannery.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV307144	Report - Survey: National Trust. 1984. Bradley Manor. National Trust Archaeological Survey Report. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV310051	Report - Assessment: Exeter Archaeology. 2001. Archaeological Assessment of Proposed Redevelopment at Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot. Exeter Archaeology. 01.07. A4 Stapled + Digital. 9, 11.
SDV320583	Report - Evaluation: Mayes, S. + Oakey, N. J.. 2004. Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot: Archaeological Evaluation. Archaeological Investigations Ltd. 653. A4 stapled + Digital. 653.
SDV325576	Report - Interim: Bodman, M.. 2003. Watermills and Other Water-Powered Sites in Devon. A4 Spiral Bound. 271.
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #83078 ]
SDV338211	Report - Assessment: Oakey, N. J.. 2004. Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot: Desk Based Assessment. Archaeological Investigations Ltd. 646. A4 Stapled + Digital. 19.
SDV338356	Correspondence: 1st Engineers Reports Limited. 2003. Conversion of Bark Mill. Letter to A. M. Dick. Letter + Digital.
SDV338357	Worksheet: Griffiths, D. M.. 1757. Map. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV364726	Ground Photograph: Watts, S.. 2022. Bradley Mills, Newton Abbot. Digital.
	Linked images:13

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4206 - Bradley Lane Assessment
• EDV4211 - Land between Highweek Street & Back Road, Newton Abbot
• EDV753 - Archaeological assessment of proposed redevelopment at Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot
• EDV754 - Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot: Archaeological evaluation

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